Thousands of Iraqi forces begin surrounding Islamic State fighters in Tikrit and nearby towns on the second day of Iraq's biggest offensive yet against a stronghold of the radical Sunni Islamist militants.

Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram releases a video purporting to show it beheading two men, its first online posting using advanced graphics and editing techniques similar to footage from Islamic State.

Arts Minister John Day pledges no public libraries will close on his watch after it emerged some could be under threat because of Government demands for the State Library of Western Australia to cut costs.